Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: A delegation of Purmandal- Utterbahni Tirath Sewa Nyas today called on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and sought developmental of Devsthan Purmandal-Utterbahni as independent pilgrim tourist destination.
The delegation, led by Jawahar Lal Baru, explained that the sanctity of river Devika was presently under threat because of unprecedented erosion in the river bed caused due to illegal mining and deforestation of upper reaches.
Stressing the need to construct check dams at appropriate spots to keep the river bed level intact, Baru said that the Devika Rejuvenation Project, recently sanctioned by Government of India, covers only Udhampur whereas the holy Devika is manifested in its visible form at Purmandal onwards Utterbahni, which has been ignored. The Nyas demanded inclusion of Devika at Purmandal and Utterbahni in the Devika Rejuvenation project.
The Nyas pointed out that old traditional route from Kol Kandoli onwards Shri Mata Vaishno Devi was recently revived but originating point of journey i.e. Chichi Mata in Samba to Kol Kandoli via Utterbahni-Purmandal was still ignored despite availability of desired road connectivity.
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